I've seen lots of animals when I ride the safari in the afternoon, and often see everything I am expecting to. Maybe this is because I am usually there in the winter?
I didn't see a problem with Kermit's plan (other than leaving out Pangani Trail, the parade, and It's Tough To Be a Bug). But I like how his plan goes sequentially by "land", and if his plan works for him, good for him!
Here's a plan I often use: (items marked with an asterisk * are subject to being skipped on short days with a 5 or 6 PM close). Ideally, this is based on an 8 PM close, during peak season, when I can really take my time and savor the animals without missing anything else. Of course, this is only a sample and I never follow a plan exactly to the "letter", but it's a good idea of how a full day at the park plays out for me:
Welcome Show/rope drop
Everest front seat
Everest back car
Everest front seat (up to 2 more rides if still walk-on)
Kali River Rapids* (skippable on short days or if I'm not in a mood to get soaked - which means I skip it a lot!)
(get Safari FP, and maybe a popcorn for the bird show while on the FP run!)
Flights Of Wonder (first show)
Maharajah Jungle Trek (the order of these last two may be flip-flopped depending on show times)
(get another Safari FP for possible re-ride)
Safari
Pangani Forest Trail
Safari encore (on long days)
Wildlife Express Train
Habitat Habit
Conservation Station
Affection Section
Habitat Habit (back to train)
Wildlife Express Train (back to Africa)
Festival Of the Lion King (may not go exactly here depending on show times)
Oasis Exhibits
Discovery Island Trails
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
It's Tough To Be A Bug!
Boneyard*
Triceratops Spin*
Primeval Whirl*
Finding Nemo: The Musical (last show or second to last; may not go exactly here depending on showtimes)
Cretaceous Trail/Sue
Dinosaur (2 times if there is time)
Encores on favorites such as Everest or It's Tough To Be A Bug, time permitting
After all queues are closed, savor Discovery Island music loop, the Tree of Life, and any wildlife still out in this area
Repeat same for Oasis (in other words, take my time leaving, especially if it is dark which provides a different perspective of the park)
Park hop to another open park (usually MK, but if they are having some kind of after-hours "hard ticket" event, Epcot. Although the Studios may tempt me in this case if there are two Fantasmics scheduled)
In addition to the items marked with an asterisk, the Lion King or Nemo shows may have to be skipped due to time constraints on really short days (5 PM close), although I by no means consider them skip-worthy. As a seasonal local, if I miss one, I just make sure I see it on my next visit. But my biggest priority here is spending time with the live animals, including the ones you can pet at Affection Section, which I could NEVER skip!
My other "main" plan mirrors this, other than Africa is first and Asia second, with the Safari leading off, and usually going at least twice.
Writing this out made me remember how much I really miss the Pocahontas and her Forest Friends show and training session!
